Ah, Christmas. That magical time of year when one takes down his/her Halloween decorations to the tune of Deck the Halls and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The feel-good time of year about good will, generosity, and holiday Starbucks drinks.

Except…

By this point, it’s no secret to most religious and non-religious folk alike that Christmas (as most other holidays with religious origins) has become highly secularized. Christmas is celebrated without recognizing the Christ part, Easter without Jesus, and Groundhog day without 99% of people realizing it’s a secularized Candlemas.

Now, this isn’t a blog on “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS” – if you aren't Christian and decide to engage in gift giving and a spirit of generosity, cool. Christians should realize that’s a Christ-like thing anyway. But I digress - my point for this blog is aimed at Christians – people who should be staying true to their name. Parents, people who one day may be parents, and people with imaginations – I present to you a scenario: Your kid wants to open their birthday presents weeks before their birthday, or their Christmas presents weeks before Christmas. Do you let them? Most people would rightly say no. And why not? Because of patience! There is a time and place for everything, and sometimes we have a hard time dealing with that. That’s where Advent comes in. Advent is the neglected middle-child of Church Seasons by most Catholics. Ordinary time is fittingly ordinary, Christmas time is Merry and Bright, for Lent we all give something up and head to McDonalds for our Filet-o’-Fish, and we break out the Easter Eggs for Easter. What do we do for Advent? Sing Christmas Carols? Put out the 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle, and then sing Christmas Carols? Catholics seem to understand that Lent is a time of fasting, reflection, and uniting ourselves to the passion of Christ – advent, in the same way, should be a time of preparation for the season to come.

The importance of Advent that is lost by so many today is the joy of anticipation. We celebrate Christmas as if it’s already here without taking the time to reflect on Jesus, his coming, and what it means for us. Replacing songs with lines such as “People look east, the time is near!” with “Joy to the World! The Lord is come!” denies any chance of an eager anticipation and welcoming for our Lord.

When a hospitable host is anticipating a guest, they prepare for their arrival. They tidy their homes, make themselves presentable, and take all necessary steps to make sure their guest is welcomed, comfortable, and appreciated. When a military spouse awaits the return of their beloved, they do so with joy and eager anticipation. A mother awaits the birth of her child with a knowledge of the change it will bring to her life. When we wait for the birth of Christ, why would we not do the same? Advent is about Jesus in the sense that our joy is focused towards Him and His arrival, but it is also about us in the sense that it is a time to make ourselves ready! At the risk of sounding like a motivational poster, we must tidy the home that is our heart, make ourselves presentable, and prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord with joy on Christmas morn.

Let this Advent season be a time of prayer, penance, and preparation. Ready the way of the Lord!

1. People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year.Make your house fair as you are able,Trim the hearth and set the table.People, look east and sing today:Love, the guest, is on the way.2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,One more seed is planted there:Give up your strength the seed to nourish,That in course the flower may flourish.People, look east and sing today:Love, the rose, is on the way.3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,Guard the nest that must be filled.Even the hour when wings are frozenGod for fledging time has chosen.People, look east and sing today:Love, the bird, is on the way.4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dimOne more light the bowl shall brim,Shining beyond the frosty weather,Bright as sun and moon together.People, look east and sing today:Love, the star, is on the way.5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirthChrist who brings new life to earth.Set every peak and valley hummingWith the word, the Lord is coming.People, look east and sing today:Love, the Lord, is on the way.